NUMBER 23 AUTUMN / WINTER 2007

Editorial:
How the power of financial capital was unleashed in the 1980s to the
detriment of social democracy and an examination of the myths which
sustain neoliberalism.

Marilyn Lake assesses the relationship between government
sponsorship via the Department of Veterans Affairs and the teaching of
Australian history to promote a seamless tale of nationalist military
values.

Ian Hundley argues that the privatisation of the AWB, the
management practices set in place and the single-minded pursuit of
profit and share market value led to the oil-for-food scandal.

Ian McAuley contends that governments should not adopt
private sector financial accounting models which are appropriate to
business enterprises accountable to financial markets but reveal little
about how government is meeting its responsibilities for the delivery
of services and meeting the needs of the community.

Arthur Gibbs explains how market fundamentalism was used
by the government to cede control over the financial system which led
to the huge rise in foreign debt with little to show for it except for
inflation in asset prices.

Chris Pavey asks what Karl Marx would think of the modern
world where capitalism has become the new religion.

David Spratt points out that the International Panel on
Climate Change consensus-based conclusions on global warming are
conservative which means that carbon rationing rather than carbon taxes
will be needed to avoid catastrophic climate change.

Barry Naughten argues that the Howard Government’s refusal
to sign the Kyoto agreement is because Australian (and US) failure to
sign delays the time when China would be forced to sign Kyoto-like
agreements, which would lead to cuts in their imports of Australian
coal.

Denis Kenny: following his death in January 2007 a tribute
to the life of a major contributor to Dissent.

Andrew Wilkie describes the way in which the Howard
government has abandoned the public interest by corrupting national
security policy and the agencies which implement it.

Brian Walters notes that applicants for Australian
citizenship will soon have to pass a test to show they understand
Australian values, including respect for the rule of law, and shows the
government has no respect for the rule of law when it applies to the
interests of David Hicks.

Jim Beggs points out 28 countries are prepared to register
unseaworthy ships for the specific purpose of allowing the owners to
maximise profits while avoiding taxes and minimum standards for
seafarers.

Cedric Beidatsch discusses how neoliberalism negates its
core value of ‘freedom to choose’ by its hostility to collective
solutions to social and economic problems including trade unions,
strong political parties and social movements that seek to intervene in
the market place to promote social change.

L. Elaine Miller reviews the recent book by Frank Brennan
on the role of religion in politics.

Beatrice Faust reviews the recent autobiography by Barry
Jones.

NOTE
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permission to reprint articles, or for interviews, contact Kenneth
Davidson or Lesley Vick on tel/fax 03 9347 7839 or email dissentmagazine@dissent.com.au

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